Russia YEAR 12 HISTORYRASPUTIN

REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA 2.6 AS V2 To Achieve with Excellence Students must Comprehensively explain a range of factors that have contributed to the formation of an individual or group identity, and ways the identity was expressed, in an historical setting. Comprehensively explain characteristics of the individual or group identity. Structure and organise information and ideas in an appropriate and effective essay format (not addressed in this presentation).

RASPUTIN - Overview Grigori Efimovich –Rasputin - born in Siberia late 1860s. Developed a gift of second sight and healing the sick. Married and had four children. He was not a monk but a ‘holy man’ a ‘starets’ a God seeker. Believed that in order to be saved one must first sin Was always willing to help people on their way to salvation. Rasputin first went to St Petersburg in He was accepted by the priestly class as a holy man. He was soon introduced to Court where he met the Tsaritsa. A strong following for mystic teachings in St Petersburg. When the Tsarevitch became ill she consulted with Rasputin - who alleviated the boy’s symptoms. Tsaritsa had complete faith in Rasputin. She in turn was heavily depended upon by her husband, the Tsar. He was a weak man unsuited to the rigours of rulership.

Rasputin - Overview cont’d Calls for reform of the political system Tsar was a devotee of the Divine Right of Kings. Rasputin - access to the royal family He also made many enemies. Tsar ignored reports of debauchery Rasputin began to meddle in politics and gained power. Hospitalised after assassination attempt. Committed pacifist but could not stop Tsar from entering the Great War Tsar left Tsaritsa in charge of the country. Prince Yusupov and friends dispatched the ‘noxious creature’ The Tsaritsa devastated by his death He was dug up, burned and scattered. No real changes after Rasputin’s death. Tsaritsa had been giving disastrous advice to Tsar. Rasputin – was flawed but tied to improve life for peasants and not have war.

Characteristics 1.Rasputin the man 2.Peasant 3.Religious 4.Mystic 5.Debauched 6.Charismatic 7.Naïve 8.Classless

Characteristics : Rasputin the man: Grigory Efimivitch Novykh – Born in late 1860s - Siberia - medium height with powerful shoulders. Grey blue eyes. Could expand and contract his pupils at will. Shaggy eyebrows. Penetrating stare. Drunk. Straggly beard. Scar in front hairline.

Characteristics: Peasant Father a well-to-do peasant. Married in 1890 to Praskovie Federovna Dubrovine Three children - first son died aged 6 months - Rasputin was shattered and looked to religion. Dressed in peasant clothes Occasionally dressed in religious clothing Never tried to change who he was Not influenced by luxuries Photo: Rasputin and his children at Pokrovskoe

Characteristics: Religious: Became a ‘God seeker’ - praying and scripture reading. Had a vision of the Virgin Mary - went on a long pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Believed that God was found externally. Rasputin a ‘holy man’ a ‘starets’. His local priest became jealous of Rasputin Photo: Rasputin surrounded by his followers at Pokrovskoe

Religious contd Local priest believed Rasputin was a member of the Khlysty sect. Never any proof that Rasputin was a member of the sect But he did espouse the ideas of sinning to gain salvation. Always keen that women be saved. Dedicated to prayer. Welcomed at St Petersburg by priests. Photo: Rasputin and Bishop Hermogen and the monk-priest Iliodor who later became Rasputin’s bitter enemy.

Characteristics: Mystic: Developed a piercing, hypnotic stare. When young, credited with second sight Pointed out a horse thief in his village through ‘second sight’. His daughter confirmed he was able to catch out dishonest people. Developed a reputation as a healer. Layed on hands and prayed with apparent success. By thirty, was famous in Siberia as holy man. Legend lasted long after his death.

Characteristics: Debauched: Reputedly a possible adherent of the Khlysty, and –as a seducer of women. Gained the confidence of women of all classes. Pursued women of the upper class as well as prostitutes. Women believed that any physical encounter with a saint could not be sinful. Rasputin with women of his ‘court’.

Debauched: contd His reputation gave his enemies ammunition. Drank alcohol to excess. Quickly sobered if he was summoned to the Winter Palace. Palace regarded him as a saint Outside he was regarded by many as a debauched drunk. Caricature of Rasputin and the Tsar “We the Tsars”.

Characteristics: Charismatic: Polarised people. Able to win people over to him quite easily Also repelled people. Men could not understand his magnetic effect on women. Women used him to gain promotions for their husbands. His reputed powers of hypnosis were not always effectual on the people he truly wished to influence.

Characteristics: Naïve: Talked freely to the Okhrana (secret police) and German spies. Was source of information for both his enemies and Russian aristocracy. Took bribes quite openly but gave the money to needy. Never considered that his actions were bad for the state. Blindly supported the Tsarina even when she was reviled.

Naïve: contd Rasputin hoped that Tsarina would become regent of Russia. Took liberties with the royal family and then boasted about it. Pacifist ideals made him an enemy of Britain and revolutionaries. Became unpopular through supporting the Tsar. People called him a ‘noxious creature’. Refused to leave St Petersburg even after he predicted his own death. Tsaritsa shortly after her marriage.

Characteristics: Classless: Moved easily between the classes of Russia. by being at ease with the aristocracy as he was with peasants. Kept his peasant identity He was called the ‘peasant Chancellor’ by detractors, and a ‘Novykh-new man’ and a true ‘muzhik’ – peasant, by the Tsar. Also called the ‘Tsar above the Tsars’ by his enemies. The Tsarina called him the ‘very Christ’ a title Rasputin also bragged about. Caricature of Rasputin holding a puppet of the Tsar

Factors and Expressions WAYS FACTORS EXPRESSED –ACTIONS SYMBOLS ASPIRATIONS Believed God was an external force Shared the experiences of peasants Believed in pacifism Believed in redemption through sin Believed in autocracy and the class system Disliked the Duma

Factor: Believed God was an external force: Expression: Rasputin believed that God was found externally. This partially explained pilgrimages from time to time. He used prayer as a tool to heal and to influence and persuade people to take certain actions. His attitude to religion was ‘earthy’ and almost primeval.

Expression: Believed in healing through prayer: Miracles could be achieved by subduing all passions and being reborn. Developed a reputation as a healer. Appeared to save the Tsarevitch’s (Alexis) life on occasion. Forbade the use of Western medicines Never actually cured the Tsarevitch. Factor: Believed God was an external force- contd Mother and Son

Factor: Shared the experiences of the peasants: Expression: Rasputin was born into the peasant class, his family were more well-off than other peasants. He was well aware of the grinding poverty and hardship that peasants had to put up with. Rasputin’s House at Pokrovskoe which was the only two story house in the village.

Factor: Believed in Pacifism: Expression: He claimed that he prevented the Tsar from going to war in 1909 & 1912 Claimed hospitalisation prevented him from stopping Russia entering the Great War in 1914 Spoke against the numberless peasants being sent to their deaths in the Great War. “We peasants do not want war. It is you damn townspeople who want to shed the blood of the country-people to further your own schemes.”-Rasputin Rasputin in hospital after assassination attempt

Expression: No supporter of the war but wanted Russia to win. “I am always telling the Tsar that he must fight until complete victory is won. But I am also telling him that the war has brought unbearable suffering to the Russian people. I know of villages where there is no one left but the blind and the wounded, the widows and the orphans. It is too terrible.”-Rasputin Factor: Pacifism: contd

Factor: Believed in redemption through sin: Expression: Believed that it was essential to sin in order to be saved. Many of the aristocratic women that he helped to sin did not believe that they did anything wrong. Reports of Rasputin’s behaviour were deliberately ignored by the Tsar and the Tsarina. His enemies made much of his debauched behaviour. Tsarina commented, “ people are hostile to him because we love him.”

Factor: Believed in autocracy and the class system: Expression: Loyal to the concept of the ‘Divine Right of Kings’. Polarised the peasants. Many peasants had been happy that he had the ear of the Tsar to tell him about their conditions, ‘…only one mouzhik [peasant] got through to the Tsar and the Masters killed him…’ others felt that he should have kept in his place. Ana Vyrubova who liaised between Rasputin and the Tsaritsa

Factor: Belief in Autocracy contd Expression: Told the Tsarina that she had the love of the peasants. Apparent control over the royal family made him many enemies. Considered that the Tsarina should rule. He regularly shouted at the Tsar and bragged that the Tsar could ‘not breathe’ without him. He called the Tsarina ‘mama’ and entered the Grand Duchesses bedrooms at night without knocking. TheTsar’s children: Grand Duchesses Maria, Tatiana, Anastasia and Olga and the Tsarevich

Factor: Disliked the Duma Expression: Did not support the Duma, “Are they genuine representatives of the people? No, they are estate owners, aristocrats and rich men and no real peasants.”-Rasputin Interfered with the Tsar’s selection of ministers. The Tsar most often complied with his wife’s requests. Rasputin’s own court dealt with up to 400 petitioners a day. He was seen as the person with power in St Petersburg. “Between these fingers I hold the Russian Empire.” Not Vengeful – never sent enemies to prison or Siberia Killed by aristocrats inspired by the words of the Duma.

REVISION Characteristics: Prince Yusupov credited with murdering Rasputin. Rasputin the man Peasant Religious Mystic Debauched Charismatic Naïve Classless

Believed God was an external force Shared the experiences of peasants Believed in pacifism Believed in redemption through sin Believed in autocracy and the class system Disliked the Duma REVISION Factors and Expressions WAYS FACTORS EXPRESSED –ACTIONS SYMBOLS ASPIRATIONS

Summary Factors expressed through actions aspirations symbols: Tried to stop wars Loyal to Tsar Went on pilgrimages Sanctified women with kisses Member of the All Russian Union Interfered with appointments Tsarina made him famous Supported peasants Had own agenda Polarised people Prophesied his own death

BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Bulygin, Paul. and Alexander Kerensky. The Murder of the Romanovs, Hutchinson, London, Fulop-Miller, Rene. Rasputin The Holy Devil, Putnam, London, Moorehead, Alan. The Russian Revolution, Panther, London, Wilson, Colin. Rasputin and the Fall of the Romanovs, Citadel Press, New Jersey,

Rasputin is also available as a teaching poster plus Four Great New Posters from NZ School History